Ballinasloe teenager shooting linked to Halloween incident, Digi Mart USA News (Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland): Gardaí suspect a shooting in Ballinasloe, County Galway, in which a teenage boy was injured, is linked to an incident in the area on Halloween night. It is believed that at least one shot was fired in the direction of caravans in Curragh Park, causing the boy a non-life-threatening injury.
A major Garda investigation is under way, with arrests made and searches carried out in Ballinasloe and Athlone, about 30 kilometers from the crime scene. The attack happened on a green area at around 2 a.m.
on Tuesday and is suspected to be linked to a long-standing family-based feud that has continued in various forms for several decades.
The latest incident appears to have been provoked by events during Halloween in Ballinasloe. A group of people based in the town believe a number of caravans were deliberately targeted by antisocial behavior, with a bonfire lit or fireworks set off close to them.
However, it was not clear whether this was aimed at anyone or was deliberate in any way.
Gardaí suspect the shooting was effectively a revenge attack and may have occurred as a result of misinformation. The injured teenager was taken to University Hospital Galway for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
He has since been discharged and is expected to make a full recovery.
Sources said there was concern that a shotgun appeared to have been fired indiscriminately in the direction of caravans where a number of people live. “An incident room has been established at Ballinasloe Garda station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed,” a Garda statement said.
“Investigating gardaí carried out a number of searches of properties in Ballinasloe and Athlone on Thursday and seized a vehicle and a number of electronic devices.” One of those arrested is an adult teenager, who was detained in Athlone and questioned at a Garda station in the northwest under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, which is used in cases of suspected organized crime.
A second man, in his 20s, was arrested in Athlone during searches linked to the investigation on foot of outstanding bench warrants. Gardaí have appealed to anyone who was in the Curragh Park area from midnight to 3 a.m.
on Thursday to come forward, and are especially keen to obtain CCTV recordings or dashcam footage that may have been captured around the time of the attack.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballinasloe Garda station at 090 063 1890, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
